Fabre in Sacheon’s Tang Novel - Chapter 38

Chapter 38

The Tang Clan was thrown into disarray by the unforeseen assault from the Blood Cult.
Not only had a great number of the clan’s fighters been slain or wounded, but the arrival of numerous allied sects from the righteous path, all claiming to offer support, only intensified the turmoil.
My elder sister informed me that the Qingcheng Sect and the Emei Sect, both based in Sichuan, had dispatched their delegates as soon as our messenger pigeons reached them. Fighters from the Wudang Sect in Hubei and the Zhuge Family were also en route.
It appeared the Blood Cult was a wicked faction that kidnapped people to drain their essence blood and had been declared an enemy of the entire martial world three decades ago after perpetrating a great massacre.
This “evil cult” was reputed to be even more contemptible than the Black Path or any other unorthodox school.
Even the Tang Clan, themselves notorious for their ruthless use of poison and human experimentation, labeled them as the most vile kind of scum.
“Honestly, if the Tang Clan—who have no ethical issues with human test subjects—call them trash, how terrible must these people be?”
Even the Martial Alliance, a large coalition of martial artists headquartered in Wuhan, was sending investigators to look into the affair.
Clearly, this was a matter of immense significance.
That explained the influx of visitors. For the moment, a preliminary council was being conducted in the Xuanwu Hall, the Tang Clan’s main meeting chamber, with the first-arrived delegates from the Qingcheng and Emei Sects in attendance.

“What were the results of the search of the perimeter?”
Grandfather, who had convened the meeting, posed the question to the head of the Qingcheng Sect, Bai Hezi, who had come with dozens of his disciples. Bai Hezi relayed what they had uncovered over the last three days.
The Tang Clan had performed an initial sweep, but with so many of our fighters wounded, a comprehensive examination had been impossible. After the Qingcheng and Emei Sect members arrived, Grandfather had enlisted their help to search the area again.
“Senior Mandok Shingun, it appears the cultists forded the Tang River. We discovered moss scraped from rocks near the bank. Regrettably, we could not ascertain their point of origin, as the rain washed away nearly all other traces.”
Once he finished, Master Hwajeong of the Emei Sect shared their findings from scouring the mountains where the battle had occurred.
“Amitabha. We, too, searched for three days, but the rain eradicated all signs. We could not confirm their route of approach. It is a most grievous outcome. It seems a storm of blood is poised to sweep across the martial world once more.”
Grandfather, visibly irritated, frowned and raised his voice.
“So, we have absolutely no way to track those wretches!”
*Thud!*
He smacked the table in fury, making the teacups on it shudder and clatter.
As the trembling cups finally stilled, Grandfather let out a deep sigh and turned to make a request of Master Hwajeong.
“Master Hwajeong, might I trouble you to conduct the memorial rites for our clansmen who have fallen? It would bring immense comfort to my heart if you would.”
“Amitabha. It would be my duty and my honor, Senior Mandok Shingun. Entrust this matter to me, and I shall perform the rites with the utmost solemnity.”
“Then I leave it in your hands. You have my gratitude.”
The memorial rites undoubtedly referred to a Buddhist ceremony for the dead.
The bodies of those who had perished in the attack had been provisionally interred in the Tang Clan’s cemetery for warriors. It seemed Grandfather intended to hold the rites there shortly.
The final death toll was eight.
The cultists had not delivered immediate killing blows. Their method was to drain a portion of their victims’ blood, leaving them to succumb to the grievous loss, seemingly to prolong the suffering. All eight had met their end in this manner.
Considering the ferocity of the battle, eight deaths was a relatively small number, but it was a deeply painful loss for the Tang Clan nonetheless.
Among the deceased were warriors I had personally scouted the mountain paths with, which left a particularly acrid feeling in my mouth.
I couldn’t fully process it, but the loss of individuals you have shared a home and daily life with is a profoundly disquieting experience.
“Is this the feeling of losing family?”
As the brief meeting seemed to be concluding with the funeral arrangements settled, I was standing next to my sister, wondering when we would be dismissed.
It was then that I locked eyes with one of the nuns standing behind Master Hwajeong.
“Ah!”
The nun started, visibly shocked upon seeing my face.
“Was her name Yeonsu?”
Recognizing her startled reaction, I gave her a small, acknowledging nod, assuming she only remembered my appearance from before I ingested the Bongwang Pill of the Golden Centipede King.
“Have the two of you encountered one another before?”
Master Hwajeong, noticing Yeonsu’s reaction, asked her directly for an explanation.
Realizing her error, Yeonsu promptly bowed her head and offered an apology.
“I beg your pardon. I glimpsed him once while returning from alms collection. His appearance has changed so significantly that I was taken aback…”
“I see. Now that you mention it, this is my first time laying eyes on this young warrior. Senior Mandok Shingun, would you do the honors of an introduction? Given his presence here, he must be a direct descendant of the Tang Clan, yet I have never heard of a youth of his age within the family.”
At Master Hwajeong’s request, Grandfather smiled and called me forward.
“So-ryong.”
It was a clear instruction to step up and introduce myself.
Quick to understand, I moved away from my sister’s side, clasped my fists in a salute, and bowed respectfully to the assembly.
“I am Wei Su Long. It is an honor to make your acquaintance.”
Despite my courteous introduction, the gathered members traded looks of bewilderment.
I didn’t understand why until a murmur began to spread through the room.
“Wei?”
“Wei?”
It was evidently strange to them that someone bearing the surname Wei was present at a meeting reserved for the Tang Clan’s direct lineage.
Sensing the confusion, Grandfather smiled and offered a brief explanation.
“He is my grandson-in-law.”
“Grandson-in-law?”
“Senior Mandok Shingun, could you mean…?”
At Grandfather’s words, my sister’s cheeks flushed a deep crimson, and the others began glancing rapidly between the two of us. The connection was quickly made, and they erupted in astonishment.
“Wait, you mean Tang Hwa-eun’s…?”
“Good heavens! One of the Three Beauties of the martial world, bestowed upon a youth such as him?”
Every gaze in the hall shifted toward me and my sister, now burning with intense curiosity.
“Senior Mandok Shingun, could you elaborate on this young man’s background? It is difficult to believe you would give your cherished granddaughter to him. I was under the impression you had sworn never to part with her…”
“Indeed, I am also most curious. The Tang Clan’s son-in-law must possess extraordinary abilities. Just what remarkable feat did he accomplish to earn Tang Hwa-eun’s hand…?”
The guests’ curiosity was overwhelming, their questions essentially asking how someone like me could possibly be matched with a beauty like my sister.
Unless I had saved the nation in a previous life, meeting someone like her would be impossible.
Truthfully, in my past life, I could barely save myself.
Grandfather finally stood from his seat, gave my shoulder a light tap, and answered their queries with a grin.
“This young man captured two of the Blood Cult members who infiltrated our ranks.”
Hearing this, the guests exchanged looks of surprise, nodding with newfound respect.
“To subdue two of the Blood Cult’s warriors? That is a considerable accomplishment for one so young. His skills must be exceptional.”
“Amitabha. To have attained such a feat before even reaching adulthood… He is truly a boon to the martial world.”
Apparently, in this world, proficiency in killing was a valid path to acclaim.
I had apparently begun on a very strong note, judging by their approving nods.
But Grandfather wasn’t done. His next statement caused everyone in the room to stare in utter disbelief.
“No, So-ryong didn’t merely defeat common warriors. He killed a Blood Cult elder.”
A stunned silence fell over the hall.
At first, the guests seemed to think they had misheard. They tilted their heads and stared at Grandfather in confusion.
But when he nodded again to confirm it, they cried out in shock.
“An elder? This young man killed a Blood Cult elder?”
“Amitabha! Senior Mandok Shingun does not seem the type to jest about such matters, but how could it be…?”
The astounded guests regarded me with a wave of newfound reverence, while I quietly contemplated the sheer absurdity of the situation.
In this world, if you were proficient at killing, you were automatically esteemed.
By that measure, my start had been exemplary.

***

“So-ryong, there is a matter I must ask of you. Would you be willing to assist me?”
That evening, Grandfather summoned me quietly to his private quarters.
After having me sit before him, he broached the subject of needing my help with a task.
“What do you require? If it is within my capabilities, I will devote myself to it completely.”
Nodding, Grandfather started to explain the situation.
“It concerns the representatives from the Martial Alliance who will be arriving shortly.”
“Yes, I am aware of them.”
I had already learned from my sister about the Martial Alliance, the overarching organization for martial artists. They were sending investigators to look into the incident, so I nodded in understanding.
“Correct. They will most likely be accompanied by one of their military commanders. I want you to demonstrate the poison you discovered for them. It is vital they know you have found a toxin that can target the weaknesses of those Blood Cult fiends.
It is a critical finding, and while it is valuable to us, we cannot withhold such knowledge if it can serve the wider good, would you not agree?”
Grandfather’s meaning was clear: the information should be shared for the benefit of all.
It was logical. If those unnaturally powerful cultists were permitted to run rampant, the resulting loss of life would be catastrophic.
Given the damage the Tang Clan had already sustained, sharing the information was the correct choice. It could prevent countless deaths.
Consequently, I nodded my agreement without hesitation.
“I understand. If it is for a righteous cause, then it is the proper thing to do.”
“Good. Now, there is a specific task I need you to undertake.”
I had assumed the request was about sharing the information, but it seemed the actual favor was something else.
When I asked for details, Grandfather glanced toward the open window of the Mandok Pavilion and spoke.
“Well, what is it?”
“I anticipate we will require a much larger supply of venom from the tiger-striped pit vipers. Based on what you’ve explained, maintaining them alive for ongoing venom harvesting is more efficient than killing them. Is that a duty you can manage?
Even if we disclose the viper’s venom is effective against the cultists, the responsibility for its production and management will still fall to our Tang Clan.”
So that was the actual favor: breeding tiger-striped pit vipers and collecting their venom.
This was precisely the sort of project I had been anticipating. I responded with enthusiastic certainty, without a moment’s delay.
“Absolutely! If you entrust this to me, I will ensure its success without fail.”
“Good. I have been told the renovations on the Mandok Pavilion are now complete, so you may commence your work there starting tomorrow. Consider this a duty for the sake of the entire martial world and apply your whole effort to it.”
“Truly? Understood, Grandfather!”
Hearing that the long-awaited renovations to the Mandok Pavilion were finished filled me with exhilaration.
For the first time in nights, I felt I might be able to sleep peacefully.
Or perhaps I would not sleep at all, too electrified by the thought of what was to begin.

***

The day after Grandfather charged me with mass-producing tiger-striped pit viper venom for the martial world, my new vocation officially commenced.
Early in the morning, my sister came to escort me to my new place of work.
Where was it? The very same Mandok Pavilion.
As Grandfather had stated, the renovations were done. Furthermore, I had been allotted a separate, sun-drenched building ideal for creating a perfect environment for raising venomous creatures. Today was the start of this substantial undertaking.
“So, So-ryong, have you settled on a name for your building yet?”
As we walked together, my sister unexpectedly posed the question.
She was inquiring about the name for the new building assigned to me. Grandfather had said the choice was mine alone.
“Could she be wishing to name it herself?”
Perhaps she had a grand suggestion in mind?
The thought of her unleashing her famously terrible naming sense filled me with a sense of urgency. This was a contest I could not afford to lose.
“Naturally, I have one prepared,” I replied with assurance.
“Oh? What is it? Since it is a building devoted to the care of venomous creatures, I expect it will have a formidable and awe-inspiring name, correct?”
Her eyes shone with anticipation as she looked at me eagerly.
I nodded, ready to unveil the masterpiece I had conceived.
“Of course. What do you think of ‘Venomous Creatures’ Garden?’”
“Venomous Creatures’ Garden?”
My sister blinked, her wide eyes filled with curiosity as she repeated the name.
“Isn’t it ideal? It truly doesn’t get any better than this,” I thought to myself with immense pride.